First Board Advice

[DottySkee]

Hi All,


First time on the forum and looking for some advice. I've just came back from my first go at surfing, Portugal for 4 days and I'm totally in love with it. Had never surfed before and think I did far better than I ever expected. I wanted to be able to stand up by the end of the trip but managed to stand up on my first wave, got pretty consistent getting up on 'white' waves even got on some face waves on my last day. Only got up on 3 and got my ass kicked on another 40 or so but those 3 made it worth it!

So given that I can't drop £500 every time I want to go surfing and fly to Portugal, I'm looking to get my won gear and get lots of practise in at home. I live in Scotland, so it's going to be brutally cold but winter it seems is best for surfing. I've got all my wetsuit gear picked out ready to order; a 5/4 wetsuit, 5mm split toe boots, 3mm gloves and 3mm double neck hood to keep my toasty (separate hood from wetsuit, the idea being that I may not need the hood but would the wetsuit on some occasions so more flexible).

The last dilemma is the board. While I was in Portugal it was just foamies we were using. I'd like to get something I can progress more on, I got pretty confident with my pop up on the foamy so I'd like to make the board I get a real board. I may find it harder to stand up initially but want something I'll be able to progress a bit on and still have fun with for a while.
I'm not looking to break the bank with my first board either and it needs to be pretty hard wearing given I'll be coming off it a lot initially.

I've done a bit of reading online and I was thinking a mini mal or a BIC 7' Egg. Thing is, I don't know enough to really make a properly informed choice. I've seen posts of "good first board" for both types and I'm a little un sure on which is the best starting point for someone still getting properly consistent on pop up but also looking to learn turning.
I'm 5ft 11, 150lb (built like a racing snake at 25). The couple I've looked at are (not the supplier I'll use, just a quick google for links):

https://www.surfdome.com/bic_surfboards_surfboards_-_bic_surfboards_egg_dura_tec_surfboard_-_7ft_0-171214

https://www.surfdome.com/bic_surfboards_-_bic_dura_tec_natural_surfboard_-_7ft_9-167892

https://www.surfdome.com/bic_surfboards_-_bic_dura_tec_magnum_surfboard_-_8ft_4-167893

The magnum obviously has the biggest volume but with me not being that large a person, is that high a volume needed?

Any advice is welcome, or other suggestions on boards also welcome. I was looking at BIC boards for their durability and price range starting out for me but I'm open to any and all suggestions on a good starter board.


Thanks

[beachbumuk]

My advice if you DON'T want a foamy (though they are fun forever) is go FLOATY, go LONG, go TOUGH.

the Bics are tough, but there are also things like TufLite Epoxy boards that are harder to hurt!

Please don't rule out a good sized foamy if you can find a second hand one as they are great for learning and good fun to ride even when you're better and just want a giggle!

[dtc]

The Bic 7ft9 or the 8ft4 would be pretty good choices

Another good tough make that a lot of people here like is Torq - they make an 8ft that would be a great choice for you, I would suggest better than the Bic boards ( but the Bics are good as well)

Don't ignore the potential for 2nd hand, although it will require a bit of looking and so forth. If you are happy to avoid that, try the 8ft Torq (or even 9ft if you want).

Although you are light, you wont complain about the additional volume over, say, a 7ft6 board. A 7ft will be much harder to learn on. The biggest problem with a bigger board is just controlling it in white water, but the difference between a 7ft6 and an 8ft or a 9ft in this sense is not huge; so the downsides of going bigger are minor but the upsides are major. Also, lots of wetsuit!

[drowningbitbybit]

I was thinking a mini mal or a BIC 7' Egg. ... I'm 5ft 11, 150lb...

Although you're not heavy – and weight is obviously the biggie – height makes a difference too, particularly as heads are an inconveniently heavy thing. So go longer than 7ft - as dtc said, something in the 8ft range will be a good place to start.

[DottySkee]

Thanks for the advice guys, I'll look at something around 8ft. I'm not wanting to beeak the bank on my first board. I'm wanting to get in as much surfing as I can before I go travelling next year. Hopefully not be a kook by the time I leave!
The board will have to be left behind (especially over 8ft, don't think I'd get that on the plane without a crazy cost) and I'd pick up a board in Australia to keep with me for the rest of the trip to everywhere.

Going to go to some local surf shops too, see if they have any of the boards I'm looking at on rent so I can test a few out and see what I like out of my 8ft+ choices.